Flikr

[metric_photography]

How many of you have a Flickr account? Does it help you with getting clients? I have one, but haven't posted anything yet. I am afraid of people right clicking my images or imitating my work. Am I just paranoid? I'd like to hear the stories about people getting business from their Flickr pages (and/or the horror stories....)

[andyw]

Originally Posted by metric_photography

How many of you have a Flickr account? Does it help you with getting clients? I have one, but haven't posted anything yet. I am afraid of people right clicking my images or imitating my work. Am I just paranoid? I'd like to hear the stories about people getting business from their Flickr pages (and/or the horror stories....)

I don't use flickr for business, although I have had business through flickr.

As to right clicking or imitating, you are being paranoid.
If you post anything on the www then it can be downloaded, there are ways to mitigate that (posting low res etc) but if someone wants it then will get it.
Imitating - ALL art is imitated in one way or another by someone else.

If you want your work seen then you run the risk of it being stolen or imitated by someone no matter what medium you use.

[SampsonImages]

If you are in the photo stream of Flickr and right click an image a pop up comes up and says all rights reserved, and won't give you the option to download. There is another section that will let you pick the size you want and download. If you watermark your images then it is a lot harder to steal the image because they will have to find a way to get rid of it. If you put the watermark through the center of the image that is very light, it doesn't mess with the image much but will protect your image. If you use a signature at the bottom like a lot of people do, then the signature can be cropped out.I attached a small example its not a good one since I did it in a couple seconds but it will give you an idea. You can share your work, and if some one were to print it, it would show your watermark. It is light enough that it doesn't distract from the entire image, and still gives you an idea. Save an image on your computer with and without it so if some one wants to print you can print or give them the rights to print without having to remove the watermark. You can also register your work:
How to Copyright your Photographs

It won't stop people from your work, but it will protect you in the case it does happen.

[Krusty79]

Originally Posted by SampsonImages

If you are in the photo stream of Flickr and right click an image a pop up comes up and says all rights reserved, and won't give you the option to download.

True, but anyone can still capture what is on their screen by pressing the PrtScn (Print Screen) button and pasting the capture into Paint or PS. So, you can't count on that to prevent people from copying your work. However, it will be a low-res version and you can use a watermark to make it even more difficult for them.

..........

[RichardTaylor]

See what not to do - re commercial activity (scroll down a little).

Flickr Community Guidelines

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I am a hobbyist who has been contacted, very occasionally, by people who have seen my flickr photographs, and asked for pictures and to photograph them at sporting events.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by metric_photography

I am afraid of people right clicking my images or imitating my work. Am I just paranoid?

Yes.

There, I said it. Someone had to.

I use Flickr to post my images as I go along and link to it from Facebook; FB's terrible rights management means I dont post any of my images on the site proper, but use my FB page to connect flickr to my Facebook account.

[superduperwesman]

I love Flickr! But I don't have to worry about others imitating my work given all the other far more talented imitation choices. However, I do use Flickr for inspiration which I think could often be imitation.